SHAKWE - Watamu & Malindi
The Shakwe wreck, a former Kenyan government trawler, settled onto the seabed in 1986 after springing a leak. Lying at a comfortable 12 meters, it's a relaxed dive, perfect for newer wreck enthusiasts or those looking for an easy second tank. We often find schooling snapper and fusiliers congregating around the superstructure, while moray eels peek from shadowy corners. The wreck itself, about 22 meters long, has broken down nicely over the years, offering swim-throughs and plenty of crevices for smaller critters to hide in. It’s a gentle introduction to wreck diving, with enough to explore without ever feeling overwhelming.
- Location
- Watamu & Malindi, Kenya, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -3.406667, 39.980667
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 12m
Marine Protected Area: Watamu
Best Time to Dive in Watamu & Malindi
The warmest water temperatures in Watamu & Malindi occur in January, averaging 28.2°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.2°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.2°C (air: 27.7°C)
- February: 28.2°C (air: 27.9°C)
- March: 28.2°C (air: 28.2°C)
- April: 28.2°C (air: 27.1°C)
- May: 28.2°C (air: 26.5°C)
- June: 28.2°C (air: 25.6°C)
- July: 28.2°C (air: 24.8°C)
- August: 28.2°C (air: 24.8°C)
- September: 28.2°C (air: 25.3°C)
- October: 28.2°C (air: 26.2°C)
- November: 28.2°C (air: 26.8°C)
- December: 28.2°C (air: 27.5°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Watamu & Malindi
- Brain Coral Garden - 8-15m (reef)
- HAMAR - 11m (wreck)
- LEE CHRISTINE - 5m (wreck)
- NAIROBI - 1m (wreck)
- South Canyon Watamu
- South Dolphin (cave)
- The Canyon - 15-30m (reef)
- Watamu Marine Park - 5-18m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to SHAKWE
- Aqua Ventures - ["PADI"]
- Blue Fin Diving
- Extra Divers Temple Point, Kenia
- Turtle Dive Center - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Watamu & Malindi
Home to 254 recorded species including 148 reef fish, 57 hard corals, 17 seagrass & algae, 10 sea cucumbers, 6 sharks & rays, 3 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- mangrove (Rhizophora mucronata) - Seagrass & Algae
- gray mangrove (Avicennia marina) - Seagrass & Algae
- Kankra (Bruguiera gymnorhiza) - Seagrass & Algae
- Sundari tree (Heritiera littoralis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Dhundal tree (Xylocarpus granatum) - Seagrass & Algae
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Species code: Tc (Thalassodendron ciliatum) - Seagrass & Algae
- Species code: Si (Syringodium isoetifolium) - Seagrass & Algae
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema setosum) - Sea Urchins
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- Rainbowfish (Stethojulis albovittata) - Reef Fish
- Rainbowfish (Halichoeres hortulanus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora aculeus) - Hard Corals
- Queen coris (Coris formosa) - Reef Fish
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Goldbar wrasse (Thalassoma hebraicum) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
- Wrasse (Stethojulis interrupta) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for SHAKWE
Based on average water temperature of 28.2°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories